During the last decade a dozen or more quality heavyweights have tried to find a way to beat Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko in world title fights.
On Saturday, in Munich, Dereck "Del Boy" Chisora will have his turn when he fights Vitali – the older, stiffer, slower and more lethal brother – for the WBC's version of the heavyweight title.
Klitschko is 40, has lost just twice in 45 ring outings and has stopped or knocked out 11 men in world championship bouts; the fighters he has left in ruins have all been better on paper than Chisora. The last opponent to go the full 12 rounds was in hospital for a week with facial injuries.
The problem with facing a Klitschko in a world title fight is that invariably the challenger is sucked in and forgets pre-fight plans. The endgame is then just a few rounds away and the Klitschkos are as patient as they are dangerous.
"It's not hard to beat a Klitschko," Chisora boldly claimed. "You have to be busy, you have to be brave and you just need to keep hitting them. I also know that it is easier said than done."
Chisora was twice matched with Wladimir, once in 2010 and again 12 months ago, but both meetings fell through. The 2010 fight was scrapped with just a couple of days to go and Chisora remains convinced that he had managed to penetrate the stone-cold shell both brothers use as an added safety precaution.
"I have been in their company and I have seen what they do and they can't get to me the same way," Chisora said. "I'm not going to be shocked by their height, by their power, and I'm not going to be their friend. I've studied what happens to guys when they fight a Klitschko and I will not fall into the same traps."
Chisora is right about the predictable and annoying trend of beaten fighters who rub their sore heads in defeat and marvel at the power, speed and height of the brothers.
Chisora, pictured, lost his last fight on a controversial 12-round decision when he travelled to Helsinki to meet local idol, and Klitschko clone, Robert Helenius. Chisora looked like a clear winner on points but the real victory was his fearless approach and willingness to stand and fight against a physically superior boxer. In the Helenius fight Chisora was in great condition; beating a Klitschko demands a hefty sacrifice and Chisora's 12-week camp has been smooth.
"They try to make everybody fight at their pace," said Chisora. "It's jab, jab, jab and then a big right and then a rest. I'm not going to fight at his pace; I'm going to make him fight at my pace. It's the heavyweight championship of the world and it's not meant to be boring. They are boring."
Vitali Klitschko's journey through the heavy-weight division has been relat-ively easy, with the only defeats in world title fights coming against Chris Byrd and Lennox Lewis. The Byrd defeat in 2000 was due to a shoulder injury, which many dispute, and the Lewis loss in 2003 was because of savage cuts.
In most other fights Vitali Klitschko has remained calm, poised and dominant and for Chisora to disrupt his reign on Saturday he will need luck to complement the guts and attitude that will make the champion know he has been in a real fight. And that is long overdue in the heavy-weight division.
o Klitschko v Chisora is available on Box-Nation, Sky channel 456
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